Smoking pipe cleaning device



Aug. 29, 1939. c, w, RAY 2,171,314

SMOKING PIPE CLEANING DEVICE Filed June 1'7, 1938 INVENTOE. CHFALMEE YV. EH3.

BY W

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED sTArss PATENT OFFICE Application June 17,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in certain devices adapted for smokers, such as pipe cleaners and the like and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved device having manually rotatable prongs in conjunction with a bowl or ash tray so that by placing the bowl of the pipe over the prongs with the top thereof facing downwardly over the ash tray, a certain mechanism is provided whereby the prongs are rotatably actuated thereby agitating the ashes within the pipe and instantly cleaning the same with the ashes falling directly Within the tray for final disposal therefrom.

Another advantage of the invention is the fact that it is applicable to any of the various types of ash trays having a bowl-like receptacle.

With the foregoing in mind, it will become readily apparent that the invention possesses further advantages, all of which will be clearly revealed during the course of the following detailed description, illustrated throughout the accompanying drawing, and more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawing:

23 Figure 1 is an elevation of the full size device with the supporting stand broken away as indicated.

Figure 2 is a sectional assembly taken through the horizontal center of Figure 1 with supporting stand in part as shown.

Figure 3 is a reduced top plan View of the complete device.

Figure 4 is a reduced section taken upon line 4-4 of Figure 2.

5 Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a reduced sectional assembly taken through the horizontal center of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an enlarged elevational view taken on line 'I--l. of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a rrTodified form of the gear mechanism of the device.

The invention comprises a mechanical unit having vertically disposed shaft l extending as clearly shown in Figure 2 and having U shape pronged member 2 affixed with the upper end and being an integral part thereof, and it is clear that the upper end of the prongs of said memher are each outwardly deflected and terminating to respective balls 3.

The lower end of shaft I is journaled in bowl 4 as at 5, and it is seen that said shaft is otherwise rigidly supported and journaled within sleeve portion 6A of hood 6, said hood being adapted 1938, Serial N0. 214,283

to detachably engage cup I of bowl 4 as indicated.

Gear 8 is provided and is secured to shaft 1 where shown in any approved manner and engages intermittent disc gear 9 to the extent of the teeth thereupon clearly shown in Figure '7. Frictional roller It is also secured to shaft 1 in any approved manner and is adapted to contact the disc portion of gear 9 at all times.

With particular reference to Figure 2 it is seen that horizontally disposed shaft H is provided and is J'ournaled in bowl i as at l2, and also at raised portion lA of cup l. Knob i3 is secured to the outwardly extended end of shaft H, and to the opposite end of said shaft is secured in any approved manner intermittent gear 9 with the shaft passing through hood 3 as indicated.

Bowl i is provided with conventional trap doors A with springs 13 therefor so as to actuate as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, also conventional cigar and cigarette holders C being present where shown. The top portion of one form of supporting stand is indicated at D in Figures 1 and 2, and it is understood that the stand for the device may be composed of this or of any other suitable type for this purpose.

The device is normally operated by placing the bowl of the smoking pipe directly over pronged member 2 and with the opposite hand rotatably actuating knob It to the right and left positively and intermittently, and in this manner balls 3 upon said member will agitate the caked ashes within the bowl of the pipe falling through opening it and upon the top of doors A and finally within bowl 4 for disposal when filled. Hood 6 tends to shield the mechanism from direct contact with ashes within bowl 4 at all times.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 the invention is shown as modified to the extent that doors A are dispensed with and the top portion of bowl 4 has bridge E as indicated, and with open passage F therein. In this form pronged member 2 is provided with sleeve portion G so as to detachably engage shaft l in order that said member may be replaced with a new one if worn or otherwise out of order. The knob is also modified as at H and is secured to shaft ll, otherwise the mechanism is identical with that shown in Figure 2, and a similar operation of cleaning the pipe with ashes descending through passage F and into bowl 4.

With reference to Figure 8 in which is shown a modified form of the gear mechanism, bevel gear J is secured to shaft II and engages bevel gear K which is secured to shaft l otherwise this form is identical with the major form shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a pipe cleaning device adapted for smokers, a bowl having trap doors and a passage in the center of same and intermediate said doors, a cup rising from the interior bottom of said bowl, a hood with a sleeve portion extending upwardly therefrom, said hood adapted to detachably engage said cup; and a mechanism comprising a vertically disposed shaft, and a series of prongs upon the upper end of said shaft, the end of each of said prongs being outwardly deflected and terminating in a spherical enlargement.

2. In a pipe cleaning device adapted for smokers, a bowl for receiving ashes, a hood and means for detachably engaging said hood with the interior bottom of said bowl, a vertically disposed shaft and means whereby said shaft is journaled and supported through said hood, a

gear and a roller secured to said shaft in spaced relation and the lower end of the shaft being journaled in the bottom of said bowl, a horizontally disposed shaft, an intermittent gear secured to said horizontal shaft, also a knob secured to said last-named shaft.

3. In a pipe cleaning device adapted for smokers, a bowl for receiving ashes, a mechanism disposed within said bowl, said mechanism comprising a vertical shaft, 2. series of prongs upon the upper end of said shaft, 2. gear and a roller secured to said shaft and in spaced apart relation, a horizontal shaft, and an intermittent gear secured to last-named shaft and means for rotatably actuating said shaft from the outside of said bowl.

4. In a pipe cleaning device adapted for smokers, a bowl for receiving ashes, a vertical shaft within said bowl, also a horizontal shaft within the same, a series of prongs upon said vertical shaft, a knob upon said horizontal shaft, gear and roller means whereby both of said shafts coact so as to oscillate said prongs responsive to a similar movement of said knob, and further means for shielding aforesaid mechanism from accumulation of ashes around the same within the bowl aforesaid.

CHALMER W. RAY. 

